| Author | Message | ||
     Zenbiker |
I think that the new Victorys get better looking every year (they were horribly ugly), but how many do they build per year? Thousands or Tens of thousands? | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Some corporate spin masters could make some believe that haggis is far tastier than filet mignon could ever be. But it is! Filet mignon is just meat, Haggis is FOOD. | ||
| Swordsman |
LOL, Rat, those tanks explain why the fairing's so frikkin' huge! I've actually become rather intrigued with the Vision 8 Ball. I'm heading down to Freedom Powersports (the local Victory/Triumph dealership) to take a look at one in just a few minutes.  ~SM | ||
| Sifo |
This August when I was in the Deal's Gap area, a group of 8 Victories pulled into our hotel. I struck up a conversation with a couple of them. Turns out they were a group of Victory engineers riding the bikes from FL to MN as part of product testing. They said there was no way they were going to miss the opportunity to hit the Dragon with them. I wonder if HD does this sort of thing. | ||
| Twobuells |
"....I wonder if HD does this sort of thing...." Yes, a few years ago a HD engineer set a long distance winter riding record testing HD heated gear.} Victory is about 3% of Polaris sales. In 2008,2009 Buell sold more motorcycles then Victory but, Victory is growing and making better bikes every year. | ||
| Ourdee |
If I could carry fuel that far forward, my bike would handle even better. Victory Smictory 50s ugh when I look at it I think of Indian Motorcycles. A friend has one and the first thing he said to me (like he was apologizing) was I've got to get some louder pipes. Aghr. I looked at him and said, "Why?". | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Wow, that Vision is ugly without it's clothes. | ||
| Sifo |
Sure is, but by the time you see her naked you're fairly committed. | ||
| Pwnzor |
In my opinion, this bike blows away ANYTHING ever made by Harley Davidson.  | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
Dear Elvis "At some point Harley riders are going to realize they're just being played. It's all about the marketing. They have no interest in building a better bike. " How are HD riders getting played? As for no interest in building a better bike - what do you consider EFI, ABS etc? I get it, yall hate Harleys, but most of what people say about them on here is all talking out of their ass, no real world experience on them. get over it, HD makes a quality product that is reliable and holds its value well. As for the original post, silly article written by someone who, surprise, doesnt like HD I am glad to hear of another American brand picking up in sales, thats great, it'll push companies (including HD) to continue steppign up their game. Everyone wins. And that vision is damn ugly.} | ||
| Court |
>>> but most of what people say about them on here is all talking out of their ass, no real world experience on them. That's inaccurate. At least to some of us who've received Harley-Davidson paychecks and have friends working there that are making over $1M a year. I'd put my sources against your guess anytime and suggest Elvis' are as credible. But that's just me. | ||
| Brumbear |
Zen I don't think it matters thousands or tens of thousands as long as it's more than the year before and the customer base is growing IE "second Victory owners then they will keep making em. | ||
| Elvis |
Hybrid, I don't hate Harley. I think America NEEDS a strong Harley making world-class bikes in the USA and that's why I'm so frustrated by the management's focus on brand, advertising, image and accounting rather than motorcycles. Give me some examples of statements from management that get you excited for where they're going if you're happy with the direction they're going. I've been looking for things to feel optimistic about and I'm having a damned hard time finding them. I don't want to feel so negative, but I have no choice based on what I hear coming from management. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
I have two in the garage, and a Buell to boot. I can ride any of them daily, they are all together, all running.... What leaves the garage daily ? The Buell. HAD I ridden a Buell first, I probably never would have picked up the Harleys. HD lost me when they killed the Griffen HD will never get me back because they shut down Buell. | ||
| Needs_o2 |
Elvis, +1, I'd be ecstatic if H-D were to change course and become more diverse, forward thinking, enthusiastic about motorcycles. Then again, maybe we have it wrong. Maybe their true goal is just what they are, a lifestyle company! | ||
| Weatherman |
in today's news hd profits up for the quarter despite sales being down, victory sales up 116% over last year. no matter how lean hd can run its operation they still need to sell bikes. this is not a good thing for them. of course we all have opinions about short sightedness in the long run will cause them trouble. | ||
| Court |
>>>hd profits up for the quarter despite sales being down, victory sales up 116% over last year. The ONLY reason Harley-Davidson had any profit at all was a major anomaly as a result of a disastrous business decision in their financial arm. They lost a great deal of money in a single quarter and made it back in the next. Unless they can marshall a similar "disaster recovery" in subsequent quarters one can't extrapolate. If you can't do your core business well . . you have a reason for concern. Upscale sales have been impacted very little by the current economy. | ||
| Swordsman |
The Hammer S is a sweet looking bike, but I really didn't like the seating position. Too much time on the Ss, I guess. I also don't understand why it has a price tag nearly equal to the Vision, which has more bells n' whistles than you can count. I liked my butt-test of the Vision. Didn't ride it (I don't test ride when I know I'm only window shopping), but loved the way it felt to sit on. Certainly didn't feel like 800 lbs when I rocked it up off the kickstand and did some side-to-side wiggles. ~SM | ||
| Junkyrddog780 |
Visions are great bikes. The low speed handling is good for how large they are, very comfortable, lots of little gadgets built in. And jumping them off of an 18 inch curb feels like hitting a little dip in the road. | ||
| Scooter808484 |
I don't hate Harley. I think America NEEDS a strong Harley making world-class bikes in the USA and that's why I'm so frustrated by the management's focus on brand, advertising, image and accounting rather than motorcycles. That's the thing I've been hating about HD. I do have a Road King and love it. But what would ever get me into a dealership to trade it on something new? They still look the same, have all the same features (ABS excepted). In the meantime, just in the past year, Triumph has come up with a new Sport Tourer, and two new adventure bikes. I don't read all the quarterly reports, but I bet Triumph DOES say something about motorcycles in theirs. | ||
| Sifo |
That's the thing I've been hating about HD. I do have a Road King and love it. But what would ever get me into a dealership to trade it on something new? They still look the same, have all the same features (ABS excepted). I guess a whole new chassis from the ground up just isn't enough to convince some people that they do make improvements. I haven't ridden the new chassis, but I've heard second hand that it's a big improvement. I will admit that HD really isn't doing much for my tastes at the moment, but I think it's wrong that they haven't done anything. | ||
| Jens |
Ok, H-D fixed the salesproblem http://www.beirutnightlife.com/lifestyle/cars/harl ey-davidson-launches-its-dealership-in-lebanon/ | ||
| Scooter808484 |
I guess a whole new chassis from the ground up just isn't enough to convince some people that they do make improvements. I haven't ridden the new chassis, but I've heard second hand that it's a big improvement. I guess my point was that they haven't done anything new. Every change is evolutionary: new 96 inch motor (my 95 is considerably more powerful albeit without meeting emissions requirements), 6 speed gearbox (unnecessary, unless you're committed to lugging your engine. If it was close ratio, with direct drive top gear then maybe, but it's an overdrive.), new chassis, (probably better, but racetech front end and shock mods cover that, at much less than $20k), and ABS, OK I'd like to have that. On the minus side, they still weigh 800 lbs for a bagger, my Buell will carry more, they still look the same, in stock form they are woefully underpowered. The new engine has a far crappier crank bearing setup, my '02 was the last good year for that. So if I wanted to upgrade my Road King I'd have to take a $10k hit on trade in, spend next to $20k, then spend $2k and 3 weeks in motor work and upgrade my engine tuner, etc. etc. That's a lot of cash and energy spent to get ABS with everything else about a wash. Or I could go down to the Triumph dealer, for example, and drop $13k on a new Sprint GT, and have a completely different, more powerful, lighter bike that will still tour. And I'd still have my RK and have spent about the same money. So, to me, trying to sell the same bike over and over to the same people is a losing proposition in the long run. At least when they had Buell, someone like me had something else to look at, and I even bought one. Now I don't need to go in there except to get tranny fluid. I've drifted wildly off topic here. But I'm at work and blogging about bikes is much more fun than whatever else I should be doing! | ||
| S1wmike |
In my opinion, this bike blows away ANYTHING ever made by Harley Davidson. The picture of the Victory Hammer is missing I'll put my 2006 VRSCR Street Rod up against it in any test you want and come away on top. I have rode almost every Victory from the Vision , Hammer and Vegas. Low Rev limit clunky transmission, and not very inspiring. I like the Vegas 8 Ball but its a looks thing and a nice alternate to the HD airheads, but nothing in the Victory line up will match up to a Vrod (Message edited by S1wmike on October 26, 2010) | ||
| Scooter808484 |
I rode that Street Rod down at Daytona one year. The guy leading the ride from HD had us going 90 behind the airport. It was a really nice bike. Too bad they quit making it. For me the riding position on the regular Vrod was all fouled up. | ||
| Sifo |
I guess my point was that they haven't done anything new. Every change is evolutionary: new 96 inch motor (my 95 is considerably more powerful albeit without meeting emissions requirements), 6 speed gearbox (unnecessary, unless you're committed to lugging your engine. '96 Road King - 69.4 ft.lbs @ 3600 RPM http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/harley-davidson_1 340_electra_glide_road_king_1995.php '10 Road King - 93.7 ft.lbs @ 3500 RPM http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/harley-davidson_f lhr_road_king_2010.php Looks to me like the '10 has much more power, even with meeting new emissions standards. Beyond that, I'm not sure how the big twins were in the mid 90s, but from by brothers '83 to my '03 there was a world of difference in driveability. Expressway speeds on the '83 were brutal, but very nice on my '03. I can say the same thing comparing a '98 sporty to an '07. I totally agree with your comparison to the Sprint GT, but you are comparing apples to oranges. Right now I would take a Sprint over any HD in a heartbeat, but they are very different tools. | ||
| Court |
>>>>but nothing in the Victory line up will match up to a Vrod My curiosity makes me want to ask your opinion as to why Victory sales are INCREASING and Harley-Davidson sales are DECREASING. Any ideas? | ||
| 2008xb12scg |
Court, not sure who your asking, but my .02 is that HD made a mint on selling the bad boy image. Consumers bought into it big time. Then the bad boy image went to "wild hogs". All the "bad boys" are riding sport bikes. The other thing is nobody cares about buying American any more. Well some, but most don't care like they used to. And for those who do there is an alternative that seems to be putting out a very good product and looks a little different. Really they have a niche market that keeps getting smaller. I don't hate HD (well a little) I would like to see them get decent people at the top to clean things up and take notice to the market and whet the market wants. I wouild not want to see an American company go under. Weinerdal, him I want to see crash and burn on one of those new POS Sportys.. | ||
| Court |
http://www.clutchandchrome.com/news/news/victory-i ncreases-motorcycle-sales How come folks are buying Victory products and not Harley-Davidson? | ||
| Davegess |
I'd like to see the actual numbers. Sales were so bad in 2009 that percentages may be very misleading. Also I don't thin Victory is selling more motorcycles than HD just show a much greater increase in sales as a percentage, It is pretty easy to get big percentage gains when you raw number is small. Sell two bikes were last year you sold one and you have 100% growth. Looks much better than increasing from 1000 to 1500 in percentage terms. |
